Men’s and women’s international cricket teams will receive equal prize money in the sport’s largest tournaments, including at World Cups.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the announcement on Friday, hailing the equal prize money decision as a significant moment for cricket.
“This is a significant moment in the history of our sport and I am delighted that men’s and women’s cricketers competing at ICC global events will now be rewarded equally,” ICC Chairman Greg Barclay said.
“Since 2017 we have increased prize money at women’s events every year with a clear focus on reaching equal prize money and from here on in, winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will carry the same prize money as winning the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the same for T20 World Cups and U19s too.
“Cricket is genuinely a sport for all and this decision from the ICC Board reinforces that and enables us to celebrate and value every single player’s contribution to the game equally.”
The equal prize money decision will take effect immediately, while each member of the ICC will also receive substantial increases in funding.
Men’s and women’s teams will now receive the same prize money for equivalent finishing positions at events like the 50-over and Twenty20 World Cups. Men and women will also get the same amount for winning a match at those tournaments.
It comes after prize money for the women’s game has grown in recent years. The winners and runners-up at the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020 and 2023 received $1 million and $500,000 respectively. This was 5 times the amount offered to teams in 2018.
The prize money for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, too, rose to $3.5 million – in 2017, the figure had been $2 million.
“The success of our media rights and commercial programme for our next four-year cycle means we are able to invest more money than ever before into our sport,” Barclay said about the increased funding.
“This is by far the largest level of investment ever to go into cricket and it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our Members to accelerate growth and engage more players and fans and drive competitiveness.”